Newes Modelbuch in Kupffer 1604

This is a copperplate engraving from Johann Sibmacher’s *Newes Modelbuch*, a pattern book published in Nuremberg, Germany. The image presents three figures, each representing different virtues associated with needlework: Sophia, Industria, and Ignasia. These figures are allegorical, embodying abstract concepts through human form, a tradition stretching back to classical antiquity. Consider the seated figure of Industria, her posture suggesting diligence, a virtue celebrated by the Romans. This echoes in medieval depictions of the Artes, where personified virtues embody skills and learning. We also find echoes in later depictions, such as those in Cesare Ripa's "Iconologia," where virtues are codified through specific attributes. In Sibmacher’s print, the act of sewing, a domestic craft, transcends mere utility. It becomes a symbolic act, laden with moral and social value. The recurring motif of women and craft reminds us that symbols are never static. They are vessels carrying the weight of collective memory, forever reshaped by the currents of history and the depths of the human psyche.